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Programme to train 50,000 farmers launched in Salem

Novel scheme: A farmer explaining the cultivation techniques at a horticulture training programme in Salem on Monday. —

Staff Reporter

National Horticulture Mission in six more districts inaugurated

SALEM: Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S. Arumugam has launched the programme to train 50,000 farmers in 14 districts on various horticulture technologies under the National Horticulture Mission at a function here on Monday.

The Minister said that farmers would be given training for four days on the cultivation mango, banana, cashew nut, chilli, turmeric and medicinal plants.

The Government would train 21,420 farmers in Ramanathapuram, Madurai, Tiruchi, Cuddalore, Salem and Dharmapuri districts through Krishi Vigyan Kendras.

A total of 28,580 farmers in Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Erode, Krishnagiri, Sivaganga, Tirunelveli, Theni and Dindigul districts would be trained through the horticulture department officials.

The Minister also inaugurated the National Horticulture Mission in six more districts - Velur, Vilupuram, Thanjavur, Perambalur, Pudukottai and Kanyakumari - districts.

The scheme is being implemented in 14 districts in the State.

Mr. Arumugam said that the State Government had planned to increase horticulture production to 1.68 crore tonnes this financial year. In Salem district, it was planned to increase the horticulture production to 14.40 lakh tonnes. The Minister said the Government had allotted Rs. 133 crore to provide assistance for the farmers to undertake micro irrigation (drip or sprinkler irrigation) for various crops.